Current jobs related to Epidemiologist I - Austin, Texas - Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services

We are seeking a highly skilled Epidemiologist I to join our team at the Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services. As a key member of our Emerging and Acute Infectious Disease Branch, you will play a critical role in conducting disease surveillance, investigating outbreaks, and providing technical consultations to public health professionals.

• Disease Surveillance: Monitor the statewide surveillance system for case reports on select enteric pathogens, assist and provide consultation to local and regional health department staff on data entry, case classification, and other aspects of case investigations.
• Outbreak Investigations: Participate in infectious disease outbreak investigations by conducting activities such as outbreak detection, dissemination of information to local and regional health department partners, case finding, abstracting of medical data from hospital and medical records, designing or modifying questionnaires or report forms, interviewing patients, coordinating collection and transport of clinical and environmental specimens, performing data analysis using EXCEL or other statistical programs, assisting with recommendations for control measures, and assisting in the preparation of written reports.
• Technical Consultations: Provide telephonic and electronic technical consultations to public health professionals, healthcare providers, and the general public on the epidemiology of enteric pathogens and their prevention and control.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Analyze and interpret epidemiological data, including laboratory results such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), on reportable enteric diseases, and prepare reports and graphic presentations of surveillance and investigation data using EpiInfo, PowerPoint, Excel, and NEDSS-based system.

• Knowledge and Skills: Knowledge of infectious diseases and epidemiology, biostatistics and epidemiology, medical terminology, current public health programs, microbiological laboratory procedures, public health and the natural history of infectious diseases, and the epidemiology of enteric infectious diseases.
• Ability to: Conduct disease surveillance, devise and develop solutions, organize, manipulate, and maintain complex data files, present statistical and technical data clearly and concisely, work effectively with regional and local health department personnel, private physicians, hospital staff, laboratory staff, and the public, provide operational guidance and leadership to field staff, interview patients to collect clinical and exposure information, abstract clinical and laboratory data from patient medical charts, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, develop and deliver presentations, design and implement systems necessary to collect, maintain, and analyze data, analyze and evaluate empirical data and develop graphic and written interpretations and conclusions, interpret laboratory findings, physical signs/symptoms, and diagnostic test results.

This position requires the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines. The successful candidate will be a team player who can work collaboratively with colleagues and external partners to achieve common goals.